Louisiana Legacy 2026
Manning Family Children's recently announced that Louisiana Legacy will be taking place in 2026, making this signature fundraiser an annual tradition, and that Mrs. Betty Lauricella will be this year's Louisiana Legacy award recipient.
Having raised over $3 million in 2025, this year's event at the Orpheum Theater on October 1 from 7 to 11 p.m. will raise vital funds for the hospital's new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in an effort to make Louisiana a national leader in children's health.
About Louisiana Legacy
Louisiana Legacy was first introduced to align with Children's Hospital's renaming to Manning Family Children's, celebrating great progress and innovation in Louisiana child health. The event not only raises money to advance the hospital but also honors the defining moments and leaders who have paved the way for progress.
This year, funds from the celebration will go towards building a 60-bed NICU. The project will transform care for newborns, helping to ensure a healthy future for Louisiana's next generation.
Louisiana Legacy will offer gourmet meals and cocktails along with a fireside conversation with members of the Manning family, as well as special guests Courtney and Ted Le Clercq and Tina and Barry Kern. Entertainment and music headliners will also be announced in the coming weeks.
Betty Lauricella
In addition to all of the other festivities, Manning Family Children's has announced that Mrs. Betty Lauricella will be honored as the hospital's 2026 Louisiana Legacy Award recipient. She will receive the award during the event in recognition for the impact she has made on child wellbeing across Louisiana.
"When we reflect on those who have been steadfast advocates for kids, there is hardly another person who matches the commitment, passion, generosity and leadership of Betty Lauicella," Lucio A. Fragoso, President and CEO of Manning Family Children's, said in a press release. "Betty first joined the Children's Board in 1983, and was the first woman to serve as chair in 1992. A trailblazer in her own right, Betty has helped pave the way for many pivotal milestones throughout our history - overcoming financial challenges in the early days to ensure our sustainability, rebuilding in the years that followed Hurricane Katrina, the purchase of our State Street campus which enabled the vision for our most recent campus expansion, and key investments that have helped scale the hospital's impact over many decades."
About Manning Family Children's
Manning Family Children's has hosted various events to raise money for the state's improvement, including their Christmas events to "Light Up the Season." The hospital has served Louisiana for more than 70 years, providing primary care in 14 different locations across the region. The nonprofit academic pediatric medical center offers comprehensive care for children and families and works every year to expand its pediatric services. Manning Family Children's is committed to delivering expert care for every child, every time, no matter the family's ability to pay.
The celebration honors this hospital's ongoing dedication to the community and raises funds for a range of initiatives to expand specialized care. The hospital plays a vital role in the community's health, but it is up to the community to fund its continuous innovation.
Louisiana Legacy Tickets
The Louisiana Legacy gala will take place at the Orpheum Theater on October 1 from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are available on Manning Family Children's website, along with sponsorship and donation opportunities. Buy your ticket now to secure your spot out of 500 available tickets.
This year's cause is especially celebrated as it provides an opportunity for only the best care for Louisiana's littlest citizens. Healthy infants are the first step to a healthy state.
